The Modern People Leader: Forward-Thinking HR 256 - Leading Through Layoffs & Constant Change (Mita Mallick, Shelby Garrison, & Kelly Lohr)
This episode of The Modern People Leader dives into the realities of leading through constant change, featuring guests Mita Mallick, Shelby Garrison, and Kelly Lohr.
We discussed how HR leaders can navigate layoffs with transparency and humanity, the importance of supporting both exiting and remaining employees, and how to build resilience and adaptability into workplace culture.
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(07:13) Why Layoffs Feel Like a New Normal
(09:25) Shelby on the Disconnect Between Job Reports and Employee Reality
(14:27) Kelly on Building the Muscle to Adapt to Change
(18:31) Mita on Transparency Before Layoffs Happen
(21:27) The Shift in Employer Branding Conversations
(22:37) Mistakes Companies Make During Layoffs That Damage Brand
(25:04) Moments That Matter Most When Communicating Change
(28:29) Shelby’s Two-Audience Approach to Layoff Planning
(32:05) What Modern Support for Exiting Employees Looks Like
(35:33) Balancing Empathy and Clarity in Layoff Conversations
(38:58) Supporting Remaining Employees After Layoffs
(45:17) Mita on Allowing Space to Acknowledge Those Who Left
(47:11) Shelby on Bringing a Human-First Approach to Change
(51:00) Q&A: The Problem with Silent Layoffs and How to Rebuild Trust
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Past guests on MPL include Brené Brown, Annie Dean (VP of Team Anywhere, Atlassian), Josh Bersin, Katie Burke (Chief People Officer, Harvey), Liz Fosslien, Helen Russell (Chief People Officer, HubSpot), Dave Scott (Chief People Officer, ADT), Melanie Rossenwasser (Chief People Officer, Dropbox), Crystal Boysen (Chief People Officer, Sprout Social), and many more.